TL;DR
- NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says he binged Heated Rivalry in one night and called it a “wonderful story.”
- He noted the show can be “a little spicy,” and said he could see it referencing real NHL moments (like Sochi / All-Star settings).
- Bettman suggested the show helped pull in non-hockey fans and boosted interest in the 2025–26 season.
- He reiterated the NHL supports Pride nights, but the league still won’t allow themed warm-up jerseys (Pride or otherwise).
- His argument: jerseys tied to causes can become a distraction if players don’t embrace them, so the league applies a blanket rule.
Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images
Gary Bettman says he binged Heated Rivalry — but the Pride jersey ban stays
The gays have done it again: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says he watched Heated Rivalry “in one night,” calling the queer hockey romance a “wonderful story” and admitting he found the narrative compelling — even if the content is “a little spicy,” especially for younger viewers.
Bettman also said he recognized moments where the series seemed to “pick at” things the league has done in the past, pointing to real-life hockey touchpoints the show references (like major events and destinations).
And yes, he went there: Bettman suggested the show’s cultural buzz brought new audiences to the sport and helped fuel the 2025–26 NHL regular season, comparing the crossover fandom effect to how pop culture can boost sports visibility.
But while Bettman emphasized the league is happy to host Pride nights, he firmly defended the NHL’s stance against themed warm-up jerseys — not just Pride, but any cause-based or themed jerseys. His logic: when players don’t want to wear a message (whether Pride, heritage, political causes, or geopolitical conflicts), the resulting controversy becomes the story — and the league sees that as undermining the intended spirit of the night.
In short: the commissioner is watching the gays on TV… but the pregame rainbow sweaters still aren’t skating back onto the ice.